Day-indicating system of a calendar watch

ABSTRACT

A day-indicating system of a calendar watch including a day dial having the days of the week indicated thereon in at least two forms, the day star wheel secured to said day dial for rotation therewith being adapted for advancement through a plurality of increments during each day, one of said increments being associated with each of said day indications. Means is provided for advancing said day star wheel, each day, a number of increments equal to the number of forms of day indications disposed on said day dial. Adjustment means is provided for manually advancing said day star wheel an increment at a time to select the desired form of day indication.

United States Patent [72] Inventor llideho Odagiri Nagano-ken, Japan [21Appl. No. 810,582 [22] Filed Mar. 26, I969 [45] Patented Aug. I0, I97][73] Assignec Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Tokyo, Japan [32] PriorityMar. 29. 1968 [33] Japan I 3 l 43120219 [54] DAY-INDICATING SYSTEM OF ACALENDAR WATCH 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 58/58, 58/5 [5|] Int. Cl G04b 19/24 [50] Field of Search 58/4,5, 6, 5 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,410 ll/l897 Margolis58/5 2,581,268 l/l952 Marchand 58/58 3,350,873 ll/l967 Egger et al 58/58X FOREIGN PATENTS 274,908 4/ l 951 Switzerland 58/58 PrimaryExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, J r.Alt0rneyBlum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan ABSTRACT: A day-indicatingsystem of a calendar watch including a day dial having the days of theweek indicated thereon in at least two forms, the day star wheel securedto said day dial for rotation therewith being adapted for advancementthrough a plurality of increments during each day, one of saidincrements being associated with each of said day indications. Means isprovided for advancing said day star wheel, each day, a number ofincrements equal to the number of forms of day indications disposed onsaid day dial. Adjustment means is provided for manually advancing saidday star wheel an increment at a time to select the desired form of dayindicatron.

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Au 10, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 DAY-INDICATING SYSTEM OF A CALENDAR WATCH BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates generally to calendar watcheshaving the day indication appearing on the face of the watch. Generally,it is desirable to have the day indication in the native language of thewearer of a watch. In conventional calendar watches, day indication isprovided in only a single language. In order to satisfy the preferencesof a variety of users, each style of calendar watch must be manufacturedin several models. Thus, a particular style of watch might bemanufactured with one model having the day indication in French, whileanother model might be manufactured with the day indi cation in English.

In an attempt to overcome this difficulty, calendar watches have beenprepared wherein day indications in two forms or languages appear sideby side in the window on the face of the watch, however, thisarrangemenfcomplicates the use of the watch by the wearer by reducingthe size of the individual day indications and making the dayindications more difficult to read.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with theinvention, a calendar watch including day indications in severallanguages or forms is provided, the wearer being able to select thespecific language or form of the visible day indication. Said watchincludes a day dial having indicia disposed thereon alternatelyrepresenting each day of the week in at least two forms and a day starwheel fixed to said day dial for rotation therewith and adapted toadvance a plurality of increments each day, one of said increments beingassociated with each of said indicia. Means is provided for advancingsaid day star wheel, during each day, a number of increments equal tothe number of forms of said indicia. Adjustment means are provided foradvancing said day star wheel one increment at a time to select the formof indicia to be displayed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a calendarwatch wherein the form or language of the day indication may be selectedfrom at least two different forms of Ianguages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a calendar watch havingday indication in a plurality of forms or Ianguages, said calendar watchbeing adapted to display only the selected form or language.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference is had to the following description taken inconnection with the ac companying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top view of a calendar watch constructed in accordance withthe invention, with portions broken away; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, acalendar watch having an hour wheel I driven by a conventional drivemechanism (not shown) and connected through intermediate wheel 2 to daydriving wheel 3. The gear ratio of said hour wheel, intermediate wheeland day driving wheel is selected so that said day driving wheel rotatesone revolution during each 24-hour day. Day driving disc 4 having daydriving finger extending radially therefrom is fixed to day drivingwheel 3 for rotation therewith. Day star 6, shown in the drawing ashaving l4 teeth 7 is disposed relative to day driving disc 4 whereby daydriving finger 5 rotates said day star as it passes thereby.

Day dial 15, having English day indication I6 and French day indicationI7 alternately disposed in spaced relation around the periphery thereof,is fixed to day star 6 for rotation thereof. Thus, the day indicationswould consist alternately of the English form for Sunday, then theFrench form for Sun day, and then the English form for Monday. Since theday indication is provided in two forms or languages, day driving finger5 is adapted to advance day star 6 two increments, represented by two ofteeth 7, during each 24-hour periodv Day wheel jumper 8 fixedly mountedto frame 20 for engagement between adjacent teeth 7 of said day star, ispro" vided to limit the advance of said day star to incrementaldistances, each of said incremental distances being defined by one ofsaid teeth. In order to manually advance day star 6 a single incrementaldistance for selection of the form or lan guage of said day indicationto be displayed, the calendar watch according to the invention isprovided with day correcting lever 9. one end 10 of which engages one ofthe teeth 7 of day star 6. The other end 12 of said day correcting leverengages button I4, said day correcting lever being pivoted to frame 20at pin 11. Spring 13 is provided to bias day correcting lever 9 againstbutton 14. The calendar watch is provided with a dial 18 having a window19 formed therethrpugh wherein one selected day indication is visible.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, day wheel 6 isprovided with 14 teeth and is adapted to be advanced by two teeth duringeach day. Thus, if the day indication in window 19 appears in French atthe beginning of the cycle, subsequent day indications will appear inFrench. When day indication in English is desired, button 14 isdepressed to advance day star 6 by one tooth and all future dayindications will appear in English. As a variation, days may beindicated in pictures or other indicia instead of letters. Anyconventional means for correcting the day indication and for adjustingsaid day indication to select the form or language thereof to bedisplayed, may be substituted for the pushbutton and day correctinglever shown in the drawings.

Further, the arrangement is not limited to two forms or Ianguages, butthree or more of such forms or languages could be selectively displayedin a single calendar watch. In such embodiments of the invention, daystar 6 would be provided with a number of teeth equal to seven times thenumber of forms or languages in which said day indication is to bedisplayed. Day driving finger 5 of day driving disc 4 would be adaptedto advance said day star, during each 24-hour period, a number ofincrements or teeth equal to the number of forms or languages of dayindication to be displayed.

The calendar watch according to the invention permits manufacturers tomanufacture a single model of each style while satisfying a broad rangeof users. Further, it provides a calendar watch wherein the wearer canselectively choose the form or language in which the day indicationappears.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimit ing sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What I claim is:

l. A day-indicating system for a calendar watch comprising a day dialhaving indicia spaced thereon alternately representing each day of theweek in at least two forms; a day star wheel having said day dial fixedthereto for rotation therewith;

means for advancing said day star wheel, once each day, a number ofincrements equal to the number of forms of said indicia, one of saidincrements being associated with each of said day indicia; andadjustment means for selectively advancing said day star wheel by singleincrements for the selection of one of the forms of said indicia to bedisplayed.

2. A day-indicating system for a calendar watch as recited in claim 1,including a dial having a window aperture therethrough, only one of saidindicia being visible through said aperture after each incrementaldisplacement of said day star wheel.

3. A day-indicating system for a calendar watch as recited in claim 1,wherein said adjustment means includes a day correcting lever pivotablymounted in said watch and engaging said day star wheel to advance sameone increment when pivoted; and means for pivoting said day correctinglever operative from outside said calendar watch.

4. A daydndicating system for a calendar watch as recited in claim 1wherein said day star wheel is formed with a number of spaced teethequal to the number of forms of said indicia times seven.

5v A day indicating system for a calendar watch as recited in claim 4wherein said means for advancing said day star wheel includes a daydriving disc formed with a day-driving finger adapted for cooperationwith said teeth to advance said day star wheelv 6. A day-indicatingsystem for a calendar watch as recited in claim 5, including day jumpermeans adapted to engage said day star wheel in the space between saidteeth to limit the travel of said day star wheel to said incrementaldistances.

1. A day-indicating system for a calendar watch comprising a day dialhaving indicia spaced thereon alternately representing each day of theweek in at least two forms; a day star wheel having said day dial fixedthereto for rotation therewith; means for advancing said day star wheel,once each day, a number of increments equal to the number of forms ofsaid indicia, one of said increments being associated with each of saidday indicia; and adjustment means for selectively advancing said daystar wheel by single increments for the selection of one of the forms ofsaid indicia to be displayed.
 2. A day-indicating system for a calendarwatch as recited in claim 1, including a dial having a window aperturetherethrough, only one of said indicia being visible through saidaperture after each incremental displacement of said day star wheel. 3.A day-indicating system for a calendar watch as recited in claim 1,wherein said adjustment means includes a day correcting lever pivotablymounted in said watch and engaging said day star wheel to advance sameone increment when pivoted; and means for pivoting said day correctinglever operative from outside said calendar watch.
 4. A day-indicatingsystem for a calendar watch as recited in claim 1 wherein said day starwheel is formed with a number of spaced teeth equal to the number offorms of said indicia times seven.
 5. A day-indicating system for acalendar watch as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for advancingsaid day star wheel includes a day driving disc formed with aday-driving finger adapted for cooperation with said teeth to advancesaid day star wheel.
 6. A day-indicating system for a calendar watch asrecited in claim 5, including day jumper means adapted to engage saidday star wheel in the space between said teeth to limit the travel ofsaid day star wheel to said incremental distances.